Celtics Legend Johnny Most Was GM of New Bedford Football Team

I'm not sure which is more impressive – that New Bedford was home to a professional football team, or that the legendary "Voice of the Boston Celtics," Johnny Most, was the team's general manager.

I was born in 1958, so I remember when the New Bedford Sweepers of the Atlantic Coast Football League played their home games at Sargent Field, now Dr. Paul F. Walsh Field, home of the New Bedford High School Whalers.

The team was founded as the Boston Sweepers in 1962 by Ted Barron and called Everett Memorial Stadium in Everett, Massachusetts home until folding in 1964.

With the help of New Bedford Mayor Edward Harrington, the Sweepers moved to New Bedford for the 1964 and 1965 seasons before folding for good.

Here is some trivia: Mayor Harrington was the first New Bedford Sweepers season ticket holder.

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Raymond D. Lima headed up a local syndicate, which purchased the franchise from Baron, and Boston television and radio sportscaster Johnny Most was named general manager. Most was the radio "Voice of the Boston Celtics" from 1953 until 1990.

In introducing his new general manager, Lima said Most would spend as much time in New Bedford to operate the club as his Boston TV and radio work would permit. Ed "Butch" Songin was appointed head coach of the Sweepers.

The Sweepers won a championship in Boston in 1964 and one in New Bedford in 1965. The team finished 10-2-0 in first place in the Northern Division of the ACFL in their first season in New Bedford.

Born in New York City on June 15, 1923, Most died in Hyannis, Massachusetts January 3, 1993. He was 69.